Plzeň U20 beat Jihlava U20 4-3 in the opening round of the ELŽ on 4 September 2026. Both sides came into the fixture having played five matches each, though neither record carried weight in the league table. To be fair, the result might have been expected from two teams that had been trading goals freely in recent friendlies.
Plzeň's recent run included three wins and two losses, while Jihlava mirrored that tally with three victories and two defeats. The hosts had pulled off a 5-4 win over Salzburg U20 and a 3-2 victory against Sparta Prague U20. Jihlava meanwhile had taken down Muntfeld HK U20 twice and Kometa Brno U20 once.
Both teams were starting from zero points and zero games played, so this match carried the weight of a fresh beginning. By then neither side could claim any momentum from the standings — the table was blank for both. The 4-3 scoreline suggested an open encounter rather than a tactical battle.
Plzeň's recent form showed vulnerability at the back, having conceded 11 goals in their last five friendlies. Jihlava had been even more porous, letting in 17 goals while scoring 16. And here's the thing, neither defence looked particularly comfortable in these preliminary matches.
The victory puts Plzeň U20 on top of the ELŽ table with three points from one game. Jihlava U20 remain level on points but have not yet played a match in the competition proper. The gap between them is still nothing, but the hosts have taken the early initiative in what should be an entertaining season.